TBT Blog

Do you know what’s so unusual about my job?

When I do it well, I work myself into unemployment!

What’s my job? Of course, it’s being a rabbi. But that term, “interim,” means something additional.

My job is to promote healing, to encourage dreaming, and to facilitate building. If successful, then I am no longer needed, and a congregation continues on its own Jewish journey without me. The most interesting aspect of my work, though, is that I don’t do the work! The congregation does. And when it does it well, then I am able to kvell (celebrate).

It has been almost a year since I began working with TBT. So, I thought it might be helpful to review the past 11 months and to explore what the coming months might look like.

My efforts with TBT began with three months of 3-day/month visits, along with a number of Zoom calls with Rabbi Molly, staff, and leadership. Beginning in July, and continuing today, I come into Temple B’nai Torah 10 days a month…often in a single visit, sometimes split into two. In between, emails, texts, and Zoom meetings keep me connected. As you know, I don’t live anywhere near TBT; I am located in Kansas City…so I think I win for longest commute in our community! This part-time arrangement has a hidden healing benefit. It permits folks within our congregation to step forward and fill in the gaps. And it has been marvelous to see that happen…between our volunteer leadership, our Davening team, our volunteers who lead Shabbat services and chant Torah, the efforts of our Sisterhood, and a host of others who – this year – have said, “hineini – here I am.”

Of course, one of the best parts of my work at TBT has been to collaborate with our staff (each of whom is a gem…remember to thank them for all they do next time you see them). But it has been our partnership with Rabbi Molly that has ensured our continued positive momentum. It was heartwarming to see the support she received when recently affirmed as TBT’s next senior rabbi. That decision, in and of itself, indicated that the healing, dreaming, and building had begun.

Consider what has been accomplished in under a year. We have:

• hired Hannah Fuller as our communications and membership manager
• welcomed Dan Nichols and Noah Aronson for summer Shabbat services, lifting our hearts and spirits
• experienced a meaningful and uplifting High Holiday, welcoming Cantor Kay Greenwald as our tefillah partner
• enjoyed our High Holiday volunteer choir, after several years of absence
• raised over $100,000 to support TBT’s ongoing programs in our Annual Campaign
• celebrated Chanukah with over 150 of our TBT family present
• launched our campaign to fund the Solomike Early Childhood Center, and raised (so far) $1,450,000
• …and so much more!

Until our staffing needs are more fully met, part of my efforts are to provide Rabbi Molly with an extra set of hands…to teach, to counsel, and to partner with our volunteer leadership administering the day-to-day needs of our community. Coming up, I will be offering a 10-week (re)Introduction to Judaism series and two book conversations – one in March, focused on Israel (The Haj); and one in May, focused on faith (As A Driven Leaf). Together, Rabbi Molly and I will help TBT celebrate Purim, Passover, and Shavuot. And on Shavuot, for the first time in several years, we will celebrate Confirmation with four of our young adults (whom Rabbi Molly and I are both teaching and learning from).

Over the course of the next few months, another part of my work will be to prepare to transition “senior rabbi” functions from myself to Rabbi Molly, offering her whatever wisdom and experience might be useful as she enters this new stage in her own rabbinate.

In other words, my work continues towards soon-to-be obsolescence! And I couldn’t be more pleased – for TBT, for Rabbi Molly and our wonderful staff, for our volunteer leadership, and for this entire community.

But…there’s more! We’ve done some healing, but we are still dreaming and just beginning our building. Part of that process is understanding transitions within congregations and diving into our Shared Vision results. With that said, please plan on joining us either in person or virtually (two events; one in-person only; one via Zoom only) as we, together, explore how we move from here to your even brighter future.

Click here for more details and to register for our Shared Vision Share-Out in February.